Solving a Puzzle: Revealing the Power of Basic Mathematics in Everyday Situations

Have you ever come across a situation where you had to figure out a simple math problem, only to find yourself banging your head against the wall, unable to solve it? Sally faced just such a challenge. Let#8217;s unravel this puzzle together and see how basic mathematics can help us solve even the most seemingly perplexing situations.

The Challenge: A Basic Math Puzzle

Here is the scenario: Sally is given her pocket money. She puts half in the bank and then spends ￡3 in one shop and ￡2.50 in another shop. She goes home with ￡1.25. The question is, how much pocket money was she given?

The Common Mistake: Overcomplicating a Simple Problem

Many of us fall into the trap of overthinking or overcomplicating such problems, often because we are too focused on finding the most efficient solution, using too many steps, or maybe just assuming the problem is more complex than it actually is. Some might even argue that one needs advanced problem-solving skills or tools to crack this problem, but that is far from the truth. The reason: it is a straightforward addition and subtraction problem wrapped up in a practical example.

A common reaction is seen on social media: "Seriously You're smart enough to use a computer or phone to find Quora and ask this question, but you're not smart enough to use it to solve a simple addition problem!"

Breaking Down the Steps: Solving the Problem

So, how do we solve it? Let's break it down into simple steps:

First, Sally puts half of her pocket money in the bank.

In the first shop, she spends ￡3.

In the second shop, she spends ￡2.50.

She returns home with ￡1.25.

Now, let's denote the total amount of Sally's pocket money as X. According to the problem, the total money she spent and what she has left should add up to the initial amount:

X/2 (amount put in the bank)

3 2.50 ￡1.25 (amount spent and left)

The equation now reads:

(X/2) ￡3 ￡2.50 ￡1.25 X

Combining like terms gives us:

(X/2) ￡6.75 X

Moving (X/2) to the right hand side, we get:

￡6.75 X - (X/2)

Which simplifies to:

￡6.75 (X/2)

Multiplying both sides by 2 gives:

X ￡13.50

Thus, Sally was given ￡13.50 in pocket money.

The Importance of Basic Mathematics in Daily Life

This little puzzle highlights the importance of basic mathematics in our daily lives. Often, we underestimate the value of basic arithmetic skills, but they are the tools we use to manage our finances, plan budgets, and make informed decisions. Understanding basic mathematics allows us to solve problems quickly and efficiently, without overcomplicating the process.

Conclusion

The next time you face a simple problem like where Sally’s pocket money came from, don’t let it stress you out. Break the problem down into manageable steps, and use basic mathematics to find the solution. You might just discover that your smarts are more than enough to handle the challenge!